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Memories Are Made Of Presidents, Eagles And Starbursts.....GO Pedro Burrowed In At National Exhibits.....GO Talent Search Uncovers Hidden Skills And Abilities.....GO A Letter Of Thanks From Western Alaska Troops.....GO Scouts Had Loads Of Fun, Accomplished Much.....GO
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Memories Are Made Of Presidents, Eagles And Starbursts |
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President George W. Bush shakes hands with Scouts after his address at the closing arena show. (Photo by Daniel Giles)
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By Jamboree TODAY Staff As the official daily newspaper of the national Scout jamboree, Jamboree TODAY was granted access to the press pool covering President George Bush’s visit to the closing arena show. Two youth reporters, Anne Jeffs and Alex Guillén, reflect on their impressions and experiences.
Anne Jeffs—I came closer than most, but still fell short. My hand was less than an inch away from the President’s arm, but then the crowd shifted, and he moved along, and I went back to my seat. The speech was impressive and the focus was Scouting. Besides, how many people can say they have heard the sitting President speak live?
If you did not get the chance to hear the President, his speech is here on the
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Scouts react to President Bush's address at the Arena Show 
Laser lights and a fireworks display light up the night at the Closing Arena Show. |
BSAJamboree.org web site. It speaks volumes about us as Scouts, and us as American citizens.
President Bush pointed out the good things in Scouting. He pointed out how people view the Boy Scouts when they are in uniform. When we wear the uniform we, “make a statement,†Bush said. We need to realize that we make this statement, whether it is consciously or not, because when we wear our Scouting uniforms, people don’t judge us, they judge Scouting.
Less than 20 minutes after it started, President Bush’s speech was over and he leisurely made his way across the front of the stage, back through a crowd of appreciative Scouts and out the door to the relief of the Secret Service. The band played on with songs of patriotism and significance, as we continued our celebration of Scout spirit.
Alex Guillén - Sitting amid reporters from CNN and The New York Times, and behind such VIPs as jamboree chairman Francis H. Olmstead Jr. and the explorer honorees, I stared up at the stage as Eagle Scout Daniel V., 15, of Dallas, Texas, announced the arrival of President George W. Bush.
I had already been sitting in the press pit in front of the stage for five hours because heavy security for the close seating area mandated that I arrive at 2 p.m.
After the President’s speech, the press, including me, had to vacate the pit. The stage crew literally collapsed the risers that some members of the press occupied because they [the risers] were obstructing the view of many Scouts.
When Jim Fowler released his eagle, the crate was only a few feet to my left. I don’t know if they ever found the bird again.
I watched up close as four Scouts went on the Explorers’ Challenge. But probably the best part was when the fireworks began. Each jamboree, Zambelli fireworks outdoes itself with the 27-minute pyrotechnic display, and 2005 was no exception. I particularly enjoyed the small “fish†fireworks that spun and sparked.
I looked at my watch. It read 11:15 p.m. I had been at the arena for more than nine hours. Returning to camp, I could smell the sulfur already settling in the air. I fell asleep dreaming of red and blue starbursts and lasers piercing the dark night. It is a memory that will be with me forever. Back to Top
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Pedro Burrowed In At National Exhibits
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Scouts visit with Pedro the Boys’ Life burro on its morning walk with staffer Dennis O’Neill (left). (Photo by Mark Duncan) |
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By Alex Guillén
Jamboree TODAY Staff
How does one burro do it all? Pedro reads hundreds of letters and responds to them each month, as well as goes on trips for his monthly comic strip, most recently across the universe to become an intergalactic movie star.
Not one to bray his own praise, Pedro is quiet on the subject. Quietly, he observes the thousands of Scouts who pass through the national exhibits. He has yet to sign an autograph or tell any of the thousands of jokes he has heard through the years. He relies on his public relations expert to answer questions for him.
“He also pretty much edits the [Think ‘n’ Grin] joke column,†said Dennis O’Neill, a volunteer from Chester, Md. O’Neill works at the Boys’ Life exhibit taking care of after Pedro, the “mail burro†that works at the popular Scouting magazine. Visitors can visit with Pedro, pet him and feed him.
“He likes apples of any kind,†said O’Neill. “He is also fed a mixture of oats and green grass.†The area in which Pedro lives was at one point grassy, but now the hungry quadruped has gobbled up much of the turf.
“I thought it was cool to meet him,†said Star Scout David B., 13, of Troop 815 from San Diego, Calif. “I see him in the magazine all the time,†he added.
Pedro, whose pen is located in the Boys’ Life exhibit on Thomas Road, is four years old. He is a miniature Jerusalem burro, so called because of the cross-shaped stripes of dark fur on his otherwise gray back.
For exercise, Pedro can walk around in his pen, or for more rigorous exercise O’Neill will walk him through the Merit Badge Midway.Back to Top |
Talent Search Uncovers Hidden Skills And Abilities |
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The search for the 2005 National Scout “Jamboree Idol†concluded Saturday afternoon as judges chose three talented Scouts to perform in Sunday’s arena show.
Tyler James M., the Illinois state youth champion fiddler, wowed the judges with his rendition of Red Haired Boy, Black Mountain Rag and Bile Them Cabbages Down. Tyler J., Troop 1226, hails from Marine, Ill., where he plays in a family bluegrass band.
Bagpipe player Nathan J., the runner-up, entertained with an arrangement of Scottish melodies. Nathan, a Life Scout from Subcamp 6, plans to finish his Eagle requirements this year. He lives in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Eagle Scout Paul S., second runner-up, performed his rendition of Tiny Dancer. The Scout from Troop 1213, played the piano and sang. Paul hails from Kansas City, Mo.
Numerous Scouts vied for a spot in the jamboree idol contest by performing in the daily Scout talent search tryouts held during the week at the daily stage. Judges picked a total of nine Scouts to compete in the finals Saturday afternoon. The six other talented participants performing in the finals were:
“James and Michael A. and Boyz†from Honolulu, Hawaii, Troop 604, performed a fire knife dance and sang. Other members of their troop supported them on ukuleles, drums, flute and bass.
Eagle Scouts Jim K. and Cody B., and Star Scout Tim M., all from Corsicana, Texas, Troop 1705, chanted, danced and beat bopped (facial percussion noises) selections from Intergalactic Rhapsody.
First Class Scout Matthew H., Ray City, Ga., Troop 2021, entertained the crowd with his rousing rendition of God Bless the U.S.A.
From Troop 1621 Patrick McC., Yorktown, Va., and who only needs his Eagle ceremony to receive his Eagle award, entertained the audience as he accompanied himself on piano and sang his own original composition, May I Tell You I’m Sorry.
Troop 148’s “Living Eddy,†a Venturing Crew rock band with Brian Griffin, Dale Rodgers, Kyle Schweissing and Nick Timchalk roused the crowd with their renditions of Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Sweater Song by Weezer. Living Eddy, from Kennewick, Wash., originally started as a church praise band and now specializes in youth ministry.
Robert M., a Cincinnati, Ohio, Life Scout from Subcamp 11, entertained the crowd with his trumpet rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, My Country ‘tis of Thee and The Battle Cry of Freedom. Robert, with four years of trumpet experience, plays with the Lakota West High band, the Blue Ash Symphony and the Hamilton Symphony. Back to Top
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 Life Scout Nathan J., Blackfoof, Idaho, plays the bagpipes at the closing arena show. (Photo by Mark Duncan) 
Tyler James M. of Troop 1226, from Marine, Ill., plays the fiddle at the closing arena show. (Photo by Mark Duncan) |
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A Letter Of Thanks From Western Alaska Troops |
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Scouts place platches that they have collected into a box in the Southern Region for Alaska Scouts (Photo by Brian Payne) |
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Back to Top |
Scouts Had Loads Of Fun, Accomplished Much
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By Rob Jeffs
Jamboree TODAY Staff
On Monday, John S., 17, Life Scout, Lancaster, Ohio, said, “The second half of the week was a ton of fun.†Michael F., 17, Life Scout, Tylersburg, Pa., chimed in, “It’s crazy, it’s almost over.†Robert C., 15, Life Scout, Cincinnati, Ohio, said, “It was great.†“It’s hard to do all the stuff in the time left,†said Star Scout Jacob L., 17, New Glarus, Wis. “Greater than expected; lots more activities than I thought,†added Peter S., 15, Star Scout from Schaumburg, Ill. They echoed the sentiments of Scouts throughout Fort A.P. Hill as they tried to figure out what to do during the final two days of the jamboree. All had activities and friendships competing for the short time left. Many had benefited from the service of adult and youth leaders through the week.
Activities kept Bellefontaine, Ohio, Life Scout, Kyle O., 14, busy. He was considering a return to the flying squirrel. Tyler A., 14, a Star Scout from Arlington Heights, Ill., was making plans to go rafting.
Life Scout Mike M., 14, from Syracuse, N.Y., said, “I did pretty good, especially at the action centers, bikathlon and rappelling. It is tough to decide on what to do before we leave.â€
Bill F., 17, Life Scout, Fayetteville, N.Y., said, “ I like the wide variety of things to do … lots more to do.â€
“I really liked BMX and archery,†Fletcher said. He also enjoyed spending time in National Exhibits. “The National Eagle Scout Association had all types of Eagle Scout emblems from all of the years.†Eagle Scout Andrew D., 16, and Brad S., 14, a Star Scout, both from Twin Lakes, Wis., said “they had worked on activities that could not be done at home.â€
Andrew completed both the Plumbing merit badge and took his amateur radio certification exam.
Friendships were made, said Eric and Brian R., both Life Scouts from Papillion, Neb. Heading to meet with the chaplain to obtain their last rocker, they said, “We met British and Korean Scouts as well boys from Hong Kong and St. Louis.†“It was easy to meet new people,†said Chris H., 15, a Life Scout from Frostburg, M.D. “We arrived here as strangers and met new friends from all over.†Derek A., 15, a Life Scout, Petersburg, W.V., said, “When the weather cooled down, they were the best days. It made it easier to get around. We were able to walk to Subcamps 18 and 20 where the Halo patches were.†Luis P., 13, a First Class from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, said the cooler weather “let them leave camp. We would visit other troops telling jokes to break the ice and make new friends.†After taking scuba for the first time, he said, “When I get home, I am going to get certified as a diver.†|
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Leadership by youth and adult participants guided Scouts earlier in the week as they tried to learn the routine and camp layout. Scouts also dug deep to “git-r-done.â€
Life Scout J. W. B., 16, from Indianapolis, Ind., said, “My greatest reward was helping younger Scouts in my patrol.â€
“I made sure they knew how to get where they needed to go,†said J.W. “I also attended two activities with each member of my patrol.†He wants to join the Air Force after college.
Adult leaders from jamboree Troop 2060, Rusty Kehl and Ken Gaines, both from Columbia, S.C., said, “During the first part of the week, Scouts just hung around camp.†When the weather changed, “We talked to them and we were able to get things turned around.â€
Scoutmaster Joe Ahuna, Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, indicated, “although we were tucked into a shaded area, our troop was knocked down by the heat.
“We had no control of the heat, but had control over what we could do,†he said. “[My] boys focused on service to others and found that they were happier and more active.â€
Josh F., 14, a Life Scout, Vowinckel, Pa., said, “It was just more hot and hectic early in the week. It was better after the cool down. It was easier walking.†“We finally figured out where the bus stops and kiosks were and the best way to get there,†said Josh.
Even the jamboree chairman tried to make a difference. “It’s tough for a Scouter to do a good deed in this camp with thousands of Scouts competing for every chance,†said John Schat, adult leader in Troop 434. But he said, “Jamboree chairman Fran Olmstead gave me a ride Sunday morning as I was walking alone to Sunday services along Travis Lake Road.
More than in any previous event, live streaming of QBSA’s broadcast and publishing the daily Jamboree TODAY on the Web connected families with their Scouts. Parents actively encouraged their sons as the Scouts used phone cards, cell phones and, in a few cases, e-mails throughout the week.
Nearly 32,000 boys ages 12 to 17 years, fanned out from 883 campsites to participate in a range of activities every morning. Many attempted to learn a skill for the first time. They interacted with kids of the same age, from all American states and many territories, as well as 20 foreign countries.
They lifted each other’s spirit using their own leadership skills and those of adults. Skills founded in the aims and methods of Scouting.
Together, this community of Scouts, Scouters and their families assured that boys attending the 2005 National Scout Jamboree were well served.
Activities, friendships and leadership, made the event a “ton of fun.†Back to Top |
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